Take the kids out for a ride in the woods to help work out all that extra sugar-induced energy!

We're already mid-way through October ... hard
to believe, right?

The season is already winding down, and there's a chill in the air that hints of less cycling fun and more cozying up to the fireplace.

But before we leave
the month to the kids and their sweet treats, there's still plenty of biking opportunities
for everyone, including the adults.

If you know of an October event I've missed,
please email bettybike@jjournal.com, or
add it into the comment fields below for all to share.

All of October (and into November)

For the entire month of October and
into early November, Marty's Reliable
Cycle is sponsoring and facilitating a bike collection in conjunction with the Newark Bike Exchange.
With your help people in need will be provided a safe working bicycle of their
very own.

Bring your
bike donations to any Marty's Location any time in October and early November. Bikes should be in good used condition.
Marty's will do any required minor repairs and facilitate the bike
donations in conjunction with the Newark Bike Exchange.
If you have questions, feel free to email TC at Marty's Hackettstown
location: craw@martysreliable.com

Tuesday, October 16

East
Hanover REI is holding one of
their ever-popular FREE Bike Maintenance Basics classes from 7:00-8:30 pm. If you
ride a bike, you need this class! In this informative presentation you'll
learn how to properly lube a chain, fix a flat tire in record time, and make
other minor adjustments to your bike. No experience is necessary and the
class is free, but space is very limited, so pre-register now at REI.com.

The West Milford Family Pump Track will
celebrate its official Grand Opening
with a special event at the township's newest recreational venue. The festivities start at noon, with a traditional
dedication ceremony followed by contests as well as giveaways and other family fun.
Located off Lycosky Drive in West
Milford, the track is open to riders of all ages and skill levels, as long as
they have a helmet. Just about any type of bicycle can be used as well,
according to JORBA's Executive Director Norm Albrecht, who recommended knobby
tires. Scooters are also welcome. Motorized devices are not. For more information on the track, see JORBA's website.

Tuesday, October 23

The Middletown Recreation Advisory Committee will be giving away free helmets for kids of all ages who
come to their bike safety event, beginning at 6:00 pm. There will be activities including a kid-friendly
presentation on Bicycle and Pedaling Safety and a parent-friendly
discussion on the National Safe Routes
to School programs. Presented
by Nora Shepard, the program
director of Safe Routes to School and the NJ Department of Transportation,
the event will be held at the Tonya Keller Community Center, 50 Bray
Avenue, Middletown, off Port Monmouth Road.
There is no fee and registration is not required.

Wednesday, October 24

Paramus REI is holding one of their popular FREE Bike Maintenance Basics classes from 7:00-8:30 pm. If you ride
a bike, you'll want this class – I know, as I've taken it myself. In this
informative presentation you'll learn how to properly lube a chain, fix a flat
tire in record time, and make other minor adjustments to your bike. No
experience is necessary and the class is free, but space is very limited, so
pre-register now at REI.com.

Saturday, October 27

Bike Walk Morristown is hosting
a Traffic Skills 101
course from 9:45 am to 6:00 pm. Following a well-established
curriculum from the League of American Bicyclists and taught only by certified League
Cycling Instructors, Traffic Skills 101 gives cyclists the confidence they need
to ride safely and legally in traffic or on the trail. The course covers
bicycle safety checks, fixing a flat, on-bike skills and crash avoidance
techniques and includes a student manual. Recommended for adults and children
above age fourteen, this fast-paced, nine-hour course prepares cyclists for a
full understanding of vehicular cycling. This class is ideal for new cyclists
who want to learn the basics, those returning to cycling from a long hiatus,
people who want to be more independent on their bike, and those who feel a
little nervous while cycling in traffic. If you do not know how to ride a
bike (that is, start, stop, balance and steer without falling down), this is
not the right class for you. Participants must know how to balance and control
a bicycle. To register or for more
information, please see Bike Walk Morristown's event listing on
Facebook.

Faith
Lutheran Church in New Providence
will be collecting used bikes on
behalf of Pedals for Progress, an
organization which annually recycles over 7,000 bicycles for persons in
developing countries. Anyone with a
bicycle in repairable condition is urged to donate to this worthy cause. Bikes
may be dropped off from 1 - 4 p.m. at the parking lot adjacent to Faith
Lutheran Church, 524 South St. Pedals
for Progress is a registered charity in the State of New Jersey. Brochures
explaining this innovative program will be available at Faith Lutheran. The phone number of the church is
908-464-5177.

Come have a spook-tactular time at the Morristown Alleycat Race,
a fun scavenger hunt conducted on bikes, in which you search around town eating
empanadas, playing games, complete artistic challenges, win golden tire bonuses,
climb hills, win prizes and gain glory (and bunches of other stuff). You
get a map, a manifest, and a spoke card. Bike to complete fun tasks, hone your
treasure hunting skills and display your cunning route choice. All cyclists are
welcome! The fun starts
at 3:00 pm ... see the event Facebook page
for more details!